30 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Fruit-gathering continued. 



depend a great deal on careful gathering at the proper 

 time, and subsequent storing ; an indication of the time 

 is generally known by some of the fruit falling off, and 

 by the condition of the pips. Fruit-gathering is always 

 best performed by two persons, one to carry a proper 

 basket, and the other to collect and place the fruit in it. 



FRUIT PROTECTORS. In the northern and 

 other parts of the country, where Apricots, Peaches, &c., 

 do not succeed in the open air, on account of the annual 

 destruction of the flowers by frost, an erection of a 



FIG. 45. WALL-FRUIT PLANT PROTECTOR. 



glass Protector above them (see Fig. 45, a) may frequently 

 be found of great value. The framework should be fixed 

 on stout brackets, and glazed on a system that admits 

 of the glass being removed in summer to allow rain 

 and plenty of air to get to the trees. Netting, frigi- 

 domo, or other coverings, may be suspended from the 

 front of the glass Protector, in the direction shown by the 

 dotted line. A portable Plant and Fruit Protector (see 



FIG. 46. P 



ANT AND FRUIT PROTECTOR. 



Fig. 46) is usually a very useful structure for growing 

 any dwarf subjects in summer, and for storing plants, 

 such as Strawberries, in winter. 



FRUIT-ROOM. A structure specially set apart in 

 gardens for the storing and preservation of fruit. It 

 should have a dry, airy position, and one affected as little 

 as possible by fluctuations of temperature. Means to 

 prevent the occurrence of these internally are introduced 

 into the best-constructed Fruit-rooms by building with 

 hollow walls, or by placing wood partitions round and above 

 the shelves inside, and allowing a channel between them 

 and the wall or roof for a free passage of air. The Fruit- 

 room has usually a central walk and tiers of shelves on 

 either side. The bottom of the latter should be of lattice- 

 work, so as to allow plenty of air amongst the fruit. It 

 is best to have heat at command, either by a small flue 

 or stove, or, better still, by hot-water pipes, with means 

 of applying or stopping it as desired. It is not advisable 

 to give more heat than is sufficient to preserve a dry 

 atmosphere and maintain a steady cool temperature. 

 Fruit, when kept too warm, invariably shrivels, and, if 



Fruit-room. continued. 



allowed to become very cold, any change to warmer air 

 causes a condensation of moisture over the surface that 

 is most injurious. It is considered to keep and retain a 

 better flavour when in a dark place, and, to this end, 

 movable shutters or blinds may be used for excluding 

 light at the windows. All fruit should be stored in a dry 

 state, and constantly examined during winter for the 

 removal of any part showing signs of decay, as a single 

 specimen allowed to become rotten will speedily affect 

 all others with which it comes in contact. A small ven- 

 tilator in the roof, provided with means for closing in 

 severe frost or in very changeable weather, will be suffi- 

 cient to cause a change of air and allow the exhalations 

 from the fruit to escape. 



FRUTESCENT, FRUTICOSE. Shrubby. 



FRUTICULOSE. Of very dwarf shrubby habit. 



FUCHSIA (named after Leonard Fiichs, 1501-1566, a 

 German botanist). OED. Onagracece. A genus comprising 

 about fifty species of small shrubs or trees, natives, with 

 comparatively few exceptions, of Central and Southern 

 America, most of them having been introduced from 

 Chili, Mexico, and Peru. Flowers usually drooping, on 

 axillary one-flowered pedicels, which are sometimes dis- 

 posed in racemes or panicles at the tops of the branches. 

 Leaves generally opposite. The Fuchsia ranks as one of 

 the most ornamental and popular of garden plants. The 

 first plant is stated to have been brought to this country 

 by a sailor, about the end of the last century. It was 

 observed growing in his window by Mr. James Lee, a 

 nurseryman, of the firm still existing under the name of 

 Lee and Son, at Hammersmith, and, appearing to be a 

 promising plant of an unknown kind, he succeeded, 

 after some little trouble, in purchasing it. A stock 

 was soon obtained, and the next year a large number 

 of plants were distributed. The first representative of 

 the genus had been discovered something like a century 

 previous to this, but none had been introduced to this 

 country. A few species arrived in succession up to about 

 1840, when the raising of varieties by seed seems to have 

 commenced with that collected from species with long 

 flowers, then recently received. From selection and care- 

 ful fertilisation of the different flowers afterwards obtained, 

 the numerous varieties now grown have descended, t Until 

 about thirty years ago, these only included flowers with a 

 red tube and sepals, and a blue or purple corolla, or those 

 with creamy-white sepals and rose or pink corollas. Then 

 a variety was raised having a white corolla, and subse- 

 quently double flowers, in various colours, appeared. These 

 all combined have produced the numerous varied selections 

 of the present day. Several of the old species are still 

 largely grown, the profusion in which the flowers are pro- 

 duced fully compensating for their small size individually. 

 Many are amongst the most beautiful of hardy or half- 

 hardy plants for outside borders, while others of a more 

 tender constitution are distinct and interesting sub- 

 jects for culture inside. F. macrostema globosa, F. m. 

 gradlis, and F. m. Riccartoni are representatives of the 

 former class; and F. boliviano, F. corymbiflora, F. fulgens, 

 F. microphylla, F. procumbens, and F. splendens, of the 

 latter description. The use of the floriferous varieties 

 for decorative purposes is well known, their graceful 

 and usually compact habit rendering them general fa- 

 vourites. Whether plants be required of a large size 

 for exhibition, or others of smaller proportions for green- 

 house or window decoration, centres of vases, and outside 

 flower borders in summer, the Fuchsia is equally well 

 adapted for one and all. Nothing is more attractive than 

 these, in summer and autumn, in a greenhouse, if trained 

 to the rafters or pillars, and their branches allowed to 

 grow and droop naturally with the weight of the flowers. 



Propagation is effected by seeds for the raising of new 

 varieties, and by cuttings for the perpetuation of those 



